The last 9 games, every game since the all star break, Yao has been phenomenal. How does this 9-game stretch (in terms of per minute statistical production) stack up with what Hakeem did in his best years (92/93 - 94/95)? I used Hollinger's game score formula, adjusted to 40 minutes (multipled by factor 40/[minutes per game]) on Yao's past 9 game stretch. Unadjusted "game score" for Yao's last 9: 24.37 Adjusted "game score" for Yao's last 9: 26.5 That's unbelievably strong for a 9-game stretch. But how many 9-game stretches did Hakeem have that surpassed this? I'll just look at adjusted game scores, since Hakeem played about 4 more minutes a game than Yao. There were 13 9-game stretches where Hakeem had a better per-minute "game score" than Yao has had over his last 9 games. Hakeem's best 9-game stretches during 92/93 - 94/95 seasons, in chronological order: 27.02 (11/25/92 - 12/12/92) 27.51 (11/27/92 - 12/25/92) 27.68 (1/8/93 - 1/23/93) 26.71 (1/10/93 - 1/24/93) 26.85 (2/25/93 - 3/13/93) 29.15 (3/28/93 - 4/16/93) 27.18 (12/17/94 - 1/5/95) 27.68 (12/22/94 - 1/7/95) 26.99 (12/23/94 - 1/11/95) 26.88 (1/24/95 - 2/9/95) 27.04 (1/26/95 - 2/14/95) 27.77 (1/28/95 - 2/16/95) 26.95 (1/31/95 - 2/17/95) 26.51 (2/2/95 - 2/19/95) As you can see, however, there is considerable overlap. Overall, it entails only 6 disjoint stretches. His average "game score" for a 9-game stretch was 23.06, and the median was 23.11: So, Yao's stretch since the all-star break ranks among Olajuwon's very best in his MVP-caliber years. Consider also that the Rockets at that time played at a considerably higher pace than the current Rockets team, so if we adjusted for that Yao's stats could look even better (betwen 92-95 Rockets played about 94.5 possessions/48min, whereas now they play more like 88 possessions/48min).
Hakeem's rebounding and blocks should be much better though. But Hakeem was at his prime while Yao is hopefully getting into it.
Rebounding and blocks are incorporated into the formula, as shown in the link. Game score = (Points x 1.0) + (FGM x 0.4) + (FGA x -0.7) + ((FTA-FTM) x -0.4) + (OREB x 0.7) + (DREB x 0.3) + (STL x 1.0) + (AST x 0.7) + (BLK x 0.7) + (PF x -0.4) + (TO x -1.0)
Impressive Analysis. It might be a little premature to compare Yao with Hakeem. First of all, the sample is too small, only 9 games in the pool. Besides Yao's injury allows him to rest for almost 1 month, while other players in the league are wearing down a little. All I'm trying to say is that don't read too much into the last 9 game stretch. Let's hope Yao can keep playing at this level and lead Houston deep into the playoffs.
It's premature to expect Yao to continue at this pace. But that doesn't change the fact that what he has done in the last 9 games ranks among the very best stretches Hakeem had in his best years.
Yao has been awesome, for sure. But, he also hasn't faced Jabar, Parrish, Ewing, Robinson, Eaton, etc...during this stretch either. Not discounting what he has done at ALL, mind you. I just think Hakeem doing it year-in-year-out against some of the best talent in the low post that has ever played deserves to be noted.
Unless Yao can produce as 9 game stretch as Hakeem did. The ultimate standard to measure against Yao is whether he can bring multiple championships to Houston as Hakeem did.
Look at Hakeem's whole career. His MVP seasons were his best all around, for sure, but he had a number of amazing statistical seasons, and we all know MVP is as much about winning as stats. I mean, check out the 89-90 season. The guy was a beast. 24.3 ppgs, 14.0 rpg, 4.59 bpg, 2.9 apg, over 50% shooting...it's just phenomenal. Yao's playing great now, but even at his last 9 game stretch, he is barely scratching what Hakeem put together for entire seasons, multiple times.
I wouldn't say "entire seasons." But Hakeem did have several great stretches in his best years that were better. All I'm saying is that what Yao has done ranks amongst his best stretches. For the 89-90 season, Hakeem had an amazing March (one quadruple double, and another near-quadruple double) which surpassed what Yao has done of late. Again, below chart is adjusted per 40 minutes.
He did face zone defense while dream doesn't. I am not saying yao is as good as dream, but I think center is more mis-treated nowaday in NBA.
Fair enough, but you know bringing up the guy that had the first quadruple-double in history and almost had two in the same week simply isn't going to evoke much support for Yao. On the other hand Yao is still younger than Dream was in his prime and it's starting to look very interesting.
Great analysis durvasa! I think the point of this thread is that Yao is starting to remind us of Dream. And that my friends is really good news!
Hey Guys!!! Yao Ming has just found himself and is developing his confidence. Its rediculous to be comparing him to Hakeem at this stage! Give him a chance to really get going there is a lot of improvement to be made and it's going to take a couple of seasons more. Just as he has surprised most of you with his recent play his future seasons will astound.
I completely agree. As great as Hakeem was, he always had trouble playing against Seattle's Triple/Illegal Zone defense, similar to what YAO faces now in every game.
Durvasa is not saying that Yao is equal to Hakeem. Anything but. Let's put this in perspective.... BEST 9 GAME STRETCHES (Hollinger Scores) Code: Hakeem ([B]ONLY[/B] 92-95) Yao ===================== ============== 27.02 (11/25/92 - 12/12/92) 26.5 (2/06 - 3/06) 27.51 (11/27/92 - 12/25/92) 27.68 (1/8/93 - 1/23/93) 26.71 (1/10/93 - 1/24/93) 26.85 (2/25/93 - 3/13/93) 29.15 (3/28/93 - 4/16/93) 27.18 (12/17/94 - 1/5/95) 27.68 (12/22/94 - 1/7/95) 26.99 (12/23/94 - 1/11/95) 26.88 (1/24/95 - 2/9/95) 27.04 (1/26/95 - 2/14/95) 27.77 (1/28/95 - 2/16/95) 26.95 (1/31/95 - 2/17/95) 26.51 (2/2/95 - 2/19/95 And that's only 92-95 comparison for Hakeem. Yao is no where near Hakeem's accomplishments. The point is that Yao appears to be starting that journey - and we are getting the privilege to see Yao begin that journey one step at a time.
How about the last 3 games? Did Hakeem have 3 consecutive 30/10 games? Make it 3 consecutive 30/10 games in 3 days, where Rockets all won?
Hakeem 93-94 3+ consecutive 30+ppg/10+rpg game streaks Code: Date Lg Tm Opp GS MP FG FGA 3P 3PA FT FTA ORB DRB TRB AST STL BLK TO PF PTS +-------------------------+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+ 1993-12-28 NBA HOU SEA 1 45 16 21 0 0 2 3 3 7 10 3 0 4 3 4 34 1993-12-30 NBA HOU MIN 1 44 14 25 0 0 6 11 2 8 10 5 5 8 4 4 34 1994-01-04 NBA HOU* POR 1 45 15 23 1 1 2 5 1 10 11 4 0 6 10 5 33 1994-01-05 NBA HOU DAL 1 38 17 26 0 0 3 5 4 10 14 8 3 0 4 3 37 And that was just quickly scanning 1 season. To be fair the SEA game was a loss but MIN, POR, DAL were wins.
Although all of this is a great statistical analysis, there is no way you can put yao's name up there with hakeem, atleast not yet. It doesn't prove anything to compare the short stint of yao's great play with that of hakeems. Hakeem's legacy lies in is his overall body of work and his consistency for over a decade. Give yao a couple years on this level and some mvp nominations and then we'll start making the comparison. But in any case, good job with the stat work durvasa.
